Shows / Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Welcome to THE college admissions industry podcast! Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts. Tests and the Rest is perfect for parents, students, counselors, educators, test prep professionals, college consultants, and just about anyone engaged in the college admissions process. You can subscribe to this podcast or stream it online via any podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify…
Episodes
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
176. TEST PREP PROFILE: Silvia Eufinger
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Silvia Eufinger, co-founder of Edison Prep…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
175. TEST PREP PROFILE: Jeanne Lucas
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Jeanne Lucas. After over two decades of…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
174. TEST PREP PROFILE: Jason Robinovitz
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Jason Robinovitz, the Chief Operating…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
173. TEST PREP PROFILE: David Lynch
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet David Lynch, the founder of StudyLark Test…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
172. TEST PREP PROFILE: Mary Thomas
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Mary Thomas, founder of Test Prep…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
171. ED Tech in 2021: Separating Fads From Sustainable Changes
The last year represented one of the most transformational periods in the history of education. Wondering what wonders the next year holds? Amy and Mike…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
170. The 4 P's Of Student Engagement
A student who is engaged is a student ready to learn. A student who is not engaged… not so much. Amy and Mike invited educator Julia Silver to explain the 4…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
169. The SAT And ACT Are Classist Not Racist
If sheer volume and vehemence of accusations of racism were sufficient evidence, the case against standardized tests would be closed. But what if testing tilts…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
168. Executive Functions In Teens
In the old days, when high school and college students struggled with classes, we focused on academic tutoring. Why did it take so long to realize how…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
167. The Necessity Of Gifted And Talented Programs
Nobody would argue that all students with special needs don't deserve to be supported and provided the resources they need to thrive. Why, then, do students…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
166. Innovative Partnerships In Higher Education
Colleges and universities struggled with challenges to profitability and program diversity before COVID-19 arrived, and the global pandemic certainly didn't…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
165. Differences Between SAT And ACT Math
While the math sections of the SAT and ACT both challenge conceptual understanding and problem-solving across a broad range of similar topics, a closer look…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
164. Don't Shoot The Messenger: What Testing Tells Us
Very few people truly love academic standardized testing, but animosity over assessments seems to increase in intensity every year. But are the exams…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
163. Do College Majors Matter?
Almost every conversation about college admissions and choice eventually turns to major. Should teenagers even be expected to know what they want to study for…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
162. High School Course Selection And Academic Rigor
Course selection heavily influences both a student's high school experience and college prospects, yet definitive answers on how to make these choices are…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
161. Making Online Tutoring Matter More
When the global pandemic hit, many families were reluctant to abandon face-to-face tutoring for remote platforms. Are their good reasons to be equally hesitant…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
160. Demonstrating Interest During Virtual College Tours
Pre-COVID, visiting a college campus was an important way to both learn about a school and signal interest. Today and likely going forward, more and more…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
159. ACT Math Reporting Categories
While standardized tests assess only part of a full high school math curriculum, assessing priorities has historically been difficult. Fortunately, ACT has…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
158. The Making Caring Common Project
The premise of holistic admissions suggests that admissions officers consider the whole applicant. But how can intangibles like character or compassion be…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
157. Advocacy For Parents Of High Schoolers
According to former Secretary of Education Rod Paige, "There is no more powerful advocate than a parent armed with information and options." But does that…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
156. Transparency In College Admissions
While a college admissions process depends on a myriad of large and small moving parts, the great challenge in applying to schools lies not in the number of…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
155. TEST PREP PROFILE: Rob Pollak
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Rob Pollak, an expert SAT and ACT tutor…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
154. TEST PREP PROFILE: Kenny Tan
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Kenny Tan, who has been working in test…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
153. TEST PREP PROFILE: Paul Pscolka
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Paul Pscolka, the founder of Ivy Masters…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
152. TEST PREP PROFILE: Claudia Chesler
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Claudia Chesler, a visionary educational…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
151. TEST PREP PROFILE: Edward Antoine
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Edward Antoine, the founder and president…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
150. Winning The Game Of School
Every version of school presents students with rules, restrictions, and indicators of success. Well, so do games! Amy and Mike invited educational entrepreneur…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
149. How The ACT Is Actually Scored
No matter how difficult a given ACT exam seems, the process of creating that test and every other equivalent form is exponentially more complex, precise, and…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
148. Stop Making $en$e: The International Student Problem
The codependent relationship American higher education has cultivated with international students seems to be on the rocks due to COVID and other crises. What…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
147. What To Check Before Submitting That College Application
The only thing tougher than filling out the perfect college application is being willing to submit it. How can applicants feel comfortable that they presented…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
146. ACT English Reporting Categories
If you weren't keenly aware of the differences between spoken and written English, you probably haven't taken the ACT! Amy and Mike invited educator Jason…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
145. Why Selective Specialized Schools Matter
Author Orison Swett Marden stated, "All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
144. Tracking College And Career Readiness
We all imagine that one purpose of a K-12 education is to prepare students for life after high school. But how do we know which students are--or are…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
143. The Impact Of NACAC Admissions Changes
When NACAC revised its guidelines for college admissions conduct, the repercussions were expected to shake the foundations of higher education. Then COVID came…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
142. Depth Of Knowledge Levels On The SAT And ACT
Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels provide a clear system for categorizing the complexity of thought different tasks--and test questions--require. Amy and Mike…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
141. Tracking Score Data
The old saying "What gets measured gets managed" can definitely be applied to testing data. But what exactly should be measured and why? Amy and Mike invited…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
140. Social Studies Instruction And Reading Comprehension
We may all agree that reading is fundamental, but is there consensus on how best to teach reading and increase literacy? You'd be surprised at what we are…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
139. Building An A+ Extracurricular Resume
Everyone knows that extracurricular activities matter in college admissions. But do you know which aspects of participation and achievement really make a…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
138. Introducing The National Test Prep Association
The test prep and tutoring industry has somehow grown into a multi-billion dollar behemoth without any guiding association, credentials, or voice. But is the…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
137. How Tests Drive Learning
While most K-12 students would love test-optional schooling, most K-12 teachers strongly disagree. Why are exams essential and inextricable components of…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
136. The Impact Of Skipping A Grade On Students
For most families, the path from kindergarten to college seems set in stone, requiring as many years as there are grades. Yet, many students accelerate through…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
135. Admissions Insights For Highly Selective Universities
The admissions process for four-year schools increases in complexity in proportion to how tough a college or university is to get into. What should you know…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
134. Receiving Testing Accommodations
Taking the SAT and ACT with the proper accommodations can level the assessment playing field for students with learning disabilities and medical needs. But…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
133. Attending A Christian College
Depending on your background, you either know lots of people who have attended Christian colleges or can't name more than one or two of the hundreds of…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
132. The Science Of Memory
In this era of instant internet searches, you may think that memory doesn't matter as much as it used to. Maybe you forget how much memory drives everything we…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
131. Self-Prep For The SAT & ACT
Contrary to the allegations of critics, you cannot buy great test scores. In fact, a surprising number of students earn elite--and sometimes perfect--scores on…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
130. The Academic Integrity Arms Race
As long as school has included tests and grades, teachers have had to deal with dishonesty and plagiarism. With rapidly changing technology, however, come more…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
129. Reinventing The High School Transcript
21st century high schools teach different subjects in different ways integrating entirely different standards, guidelines, and technology. So why do they still…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
128. 529 College Savings Plans
Most families get serious about planning for life after high school during a child's tween or teen years. If you want to pay for educational programs like…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
127. Building Effective School Partnerships
In-school prep programs can be highly effective in terms of score increases, content mastery, and overall student satisfaction... as long as school staff and…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
126. Shaping An Admissions Class
In a surprising number of ways, putting together a new incoming class at a college is like crafting a list for the perfect party. So how can you make sure you…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
125. The Historical Mission Of The SAT
The SAT has attracted incalculable criticism and scorn over the last century, but would detractors feel as much loathing if they knew the test's noble origins…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
124. Attending A Liberal Arts College
The classic liberal arts and sciences education represents the prototypical college experience, yet many argue that modern times call for different kinds of…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
123. What Is The CLT?
With all the concern swirling around college admissions testing, maybe the solution isn't fewer exams but actually more. Amy and Mike invited education…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
122. Advantages Of Dual Enrollment
Many students do college-level work during high school, but only a fortunate few figure out how to translate their studies to substantial college credits. Amy…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
121. Writing Rhetorically In Admissions Essays
The college essay is, at heart, a sales letter intended to close the deal of a student's admission to a desired school. Why, then, do writers so often ignore…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
120. Making The Most Of A Virtual College Admissions Event
The traditional college visit presents the perfect opportunity to get a real feel for a school while demonstrating sincere interest. A virtual college visit is…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
119. How Test Prep Pros And Financial Planners Can Work Together
Money is a major concern before, during, and very much after the college admissions process? So why isn't financial planning integrated more consistently? Amy…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
118. Attending A Military Academy
Very few students graduate from college thinking that they just lived through the most challenging yet enriching four years of their lives. Then again, most…
- Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
117. Lessons Learned By Offering A Scholarship
We all want to get scholarships, right? But how many people want to give scholarships? Amy and Mike did, mainly because scholarship expert Monica Matthews…